A SHIFT IN ENCEPHALITOGENIC T-CELL CYTOKINE PATTERN IS ASSOCIATED WITH SUPPRESSION OF EAE BY INTRAVENOUS IMMUNOGLOBULINS (IVIG)

Pooled human polyspecific IgG preparations for intravenous use (IVIg) have been used in a number of antibody mediated autoimmune diseases an d recently in some T cell mediated disorders including multiple sclero sis, birdshot retinopathy and rheumatoid arthritis. Furthermore, IVIg has been proven beneficial in the corresponding animal models, i.e. ex perimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis and adjuvant arthritis respectively The exact mechanism s for IVIg action in T cell mediated disorders ore still poorly unders tood. There is evidence that IVIg treatment in vitro and in vivo decre ases or changes the kinetics of the secretion by normal PBMC of a numb er of cytokines and anti-proliferative effect of IVIg on T cells in vi tro and in vivo has also been reported. It remains unclear though to w hat extent the IVIg effects in T cell mediated autoimmunity ore relate d only to non-specific T cell suppression and whether it also reshapes the autoimmune T cell cytokine profile. In this study we demonstrate that IVIg Protects against EAE and that this beneficial effect is asso ciated with a decreased proliferation of T cells specific for the immu nizing antigen. Moreover, we show that these antigen-specific cells pr oduce low amount of Thl-type cytokines and transfer an attenuated EAE.